GA SB459

Requires all children to attend full-day kindergarten before enrolling in first grade and mandates first grade readiness assessments, with students identified as significantly at risk of not attaining grade level reading proficiency subject to tiered intervention plans and potential retention.

Provides Quality Basic Education funding for one full-time school-based literacy coach at every public school serving grades K-3, with coaches required to spend at least 70% of their day working directly with students and teachers in classrooms.

Establishes the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee and Georgia Literacy Task Force within the Office of Student Achievement to coordinate statewide literacy efforts, recommend approved universal reading screeners (2-5 options including one free option), and approve high-quality instructional materials aligned to the science of reading.

Creates new positions including Georgia Director of Literacy and Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinator, and requires regional educational service agencies to employ regional literacy coaches to support local school systems.

Mandates that by January 1, 2027, all local school systems adopt unified literacy plans, and beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, prohibits use of state funds for K-3 literacy instructional materials not approved by the State Board of Education.